Page 122 of Smoke and Fire
“Rhashaad is a beautiful idiot. Playboy he might be but idiot he is not. Rhashaad and Amy Grace are going to end up together. Mark my words.”
She squealed.
Like a monster, I kept going. “Amy Grace loves him more than anything she’s ever had on this planet. Why can’t he just accept that he’s broken and let her heal him?”
Lizbeth held up both hands. “I KNOW!”
Frustrated at my less-than-two-seconds capitulation, I sighed dramatically and leaned back.
“I hate you for how much I love them.”
Lizbeth shook her head with a sigh. “I know. Jess hasgotit. I can’t tell you how many romance novels I’ve read, but never have they affected me like these.”
My nose wrinkled. “Does any other author you know have a single name?”
She shrugged. “Probably, but I also don’t care. Her books are phenomenal and you’ve only read one.”
“And a half!”
“And a half,” she conceded with a quick grin. “There are eighteen-point-five others waiting for you. Plus another one launching in just a few weeks. Book twenty one of the series,Wanderlust is a Battle,is very highly anticipated. Jess left a huge cliffhanger with a beloved character at the end of twenty and we—meaning her fandom collectively—have been dyingfor this to come out.”
A squeak/groan combination escaped my throat. Was I happy or sad about that news? Delighted, in some forms. Aggrieved in others. At the heart of all these stories were relationships I wasn’t ready to dream about again. Not so soon.
Six months,sang my voice.
Not long enough,I sang back. She rolled her metaphorical eyes.
“So.” I straightened. “Tell me about the baby and the swelling and the many eternities that are pregnancy. My cousin, Pele, has four kids and tells me all about how terrible it is every chance she gets.”
“Active.” She let out a raspberry. “So active. I’ve loved pregnancy, to be honest. It’s really fun! People help me out at the store more often, and open my door more, that kind of stuff. It’s like you get a free pass! But I’m ready to just . . . have my body back.”
“How many weeks left?”
She fake sobbed. “Twelve!”
“Drink your frap.” I nodded to it. “Maybe the cold will shock time into moving faster.”
“I hope so.” Her gaze drifted around. “I’m supposed to meet Bethany here. She hasn’t popped in yet?”
“Nope.”
“We’re planning a trip to see Ellie out in North Carolina with the baby in the spring.” She grimaced and repositioned. I nudged her drink a little closer, and she had a sip. “Thanks.”
“Sounds fun. I miss Ellie. Is she still happy over there with Devin?”
Lizbeth grinned. “So happy. Devin has always completed her. She’s homesick and struggling to find a job, but it’s only been a month since she arrived there. Besides, Devin’s love counters all of that.”
The temptation to snort nearly overcame me.Devin’s love counters all of thatwas comically cheesy.Yet,came my inner voice,you are filled with envy.
“Silence,” I muttered.
“What?”
“Nothing!” I chirped. “Ah . . . how are things for you and JJ?”
Lizbeth blinked, gazed around, and sighed. “Fine. Maverick told me about the overbooking disaster last week. I’m so sorry that happened. I might be able to help pick up some hours here if you need it.”
My grimace couldn’t be helped. A children’s birthday party anda very serious Bunco club showed up at the same time. Bethany had accidentally overbooked a slot for the back room, and the fallout had been ugly.
